CIWMB and SWANA Team Up To Train

Kim A. O'Connell

If all goes as planned, California soon will have a landfill management training program to match the one developed for use nationwide by the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Silver Spring, Md. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), Sacramento, and SWANA have agreed to begin a four-year pilot training and certification program designed to increase the competency of the state's solid waste landfill operators.

The program, which offers manager of landfill operations (MOLO) certifications, will meet all state certification requirements. “This is an important step in our efforts to further improve the caliber of solid waste management,” says CIWMB Boardmember Steve Jones. “We felt it was important to ensure that any training includes a focus on California-specific standards — some of which either exceed or are not included in federal standards.”

As part of the agreement, CIWMB will develop California-specific questions for the SWANA certification exam and provide California-specific material for the MOLO training manual.

The results of the pilot program will determine whether certification will be mandatory in the future (which would require legislative action) and how it would be implemented. For now, the California-specific training course and certification exam will be offered whenever SWANA training and certification testing is held in California. The agreement ensures that the course and exam will be given at least once a year.

“Our manager of landfill operations course is very comprehensive,” says SWANA President Steve Viny. “When tailored to the laws and climactic conditions of California, it will provide a proactive approach to improving the environment. More states should follow California's lead.”